500 youths to participate in 2021 national youth peace summit in Osogbo
No fewer than 500 delegates between the ages of 18 and 36 have indicated interest to participate in the 2021 National Youth Peace Summit scheduled to hold between the 17th and 23rd of October, 2021 at Fountain University, Osogbo in Osun State.
The delegates will include prominent speakers and activists that are for peace promotion and that can strongly motivate other youths with their life experiences and knowledge. Also, Media and Civil Society Delegation will have 25 representatives who will be invited as delegates to join the young people to share their valuable opinions and experiences.
The disclosure was made by the Convener of the Peace Summit, Mr Akin Olowokere while briefing the press in Bauchi on the preparation for the summit which will have the Ooni of Ife as the Royal father of the programme.
According to the Convener, the Program Agenda will allow Delegates to either concentrate in detail on one focus area, or explore various topics according to their preference and expertise while in addition, the summit will highlight the interconnectedness of these issues, and how each could positively or negatively affect the other.
He stated that “In view of IYC Nigeria’s commitment to generating action and impact, all conference sessions will seek to develop and strengthen tangible and pragmatic hard skills that can be put to immediate and effective use to solve local and global problems. Additional efforts will be made to foster soft skills such as creativity, collaboration. intuition, and developing a global mindset”.
"The Objectives include CONNECT and ENGAGE which will Build partnerships and motivation through connecting with influential young leaders, experts, and practitioners from across sectors and national regions will LEARN and DEVELOP SKILLS, discover groundbreaking new tools, knowledge, training, and resources to succeed in their projects.”
They will also be required to TAKE ACTION and CREATE IMPACT to Co-create solutions and engage in new initiatives and opportunities to bring real impact to local and global communities.
The Outcome according to the Convener is that “More important than The NYPS itself is what Delegates do afterwards. We expect all attendees to see the Summit not as an event, but as part of a journey that leads to significant action and impact on the ground in their communities and across the world. Delegates are encouraged to continue their journey as part of a global movement of young change-makers developing groundbreaking solutions to tackle the world’s greatest challenges”.
Akin Olowokere expressed optimism that Delegates will leave the Summit newly equipped to confront challenges, seize opportunities, and make a difference in their societies, communities and in Nigeria. The theme for the summit is: “Paving the way for a non-violent Nigeria” chosen in order to represent the potential and possibilities for young people to initiate peace processes in a fast-changing world through discussions, skill-building workshops, networking sessions, and ideation challenges.
Akin Olowokere said that The NYPS Delegates together with experienced hands and experts in the field will gain the relevant resources and opportunities they need to create impact. The program agenda will focus on five core areas where there are urgent challenges, but also exciting potential where young people are mobilized to take action: Peace Building and Security, Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Youth Leadership and Human Development, Good Governance and Economic Growth, Technology.
On Globalization, the Peace Building and Security sessions will address the core issues needed to secure the lives and properties of citizens, Conflict Management and Resolution. Effective Mediation, Conflict Prevention, Understanding Conflicts and Perpetuating factors Security consciousness of youths for global impact and the development of the National Peace Agenda focusing primarily on Social Change Under the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Little progress can be made in any aspect of Sustainable Development in the midst of conflict which sessions will focus on building Sustainable Peace to achieve Sustainable Development Goals. For Youth Leadership and Human Development, sessions will address education for employment, civic awareness, career mentoring at schools and universities and also address the core issues needed to improve the lives of people including ending poverty, improving health and education, and reducing inequalities The Good Governance and Economic Growth Sessions will focus on Entrepreneurship, Youth Enterprise Development. Youth in Politics, and Finance and Resources Mobilization and others. Technology, Health and Globalization will focus on New technology which presents the massive potential to benefit humanity and the world but also brings new risks and scenarios we have never encountered before. The Sessions will also focus on Drug Abuse, HIV AIDS Prevalence, Reproductive Health and Rights and Capacitating communities to use International Human Rights Instruments.
